Angel
Bucky’s POV
Watching Iris and Loki fight was a nightmare for Bucky. He could see on the screens above the window Loki standing far away from where Iris was fighting his illusion. He had a cruel grin spread across his lips as Iris looked confused as why Loki had just vanished from underneath her.
Iris leaped at another fake Loki only to stumble through mist. Bucky felt his anger grow as Loki chuckled from his hiding place.
“You’re cheating!” Iris yelled. “Come out here and fight me for real!”
“If you say so.” Loki vanished from one of the screens, appearing on another just feet behind Iris. Iris was facing the wrong direction and didn’t see him coming.
Bucky knew what Loki was capable of and he wasn’t going to stop like Bucky had last time. All Bucky wanted to was switch off the simulation and run in to save her. He just about did but Tony held him back.
“Just wait.” Tony said. Steve gave Bucky a reassuring look but behind his eyes was an equal amount of worry. Natasha and Pietro had come to join the three of them, watching the fight unfolding in front of them.
Loki took another step towards Iris but just before she could turn around he grabbed her hair and pulled her down. Bucky’s body tensed. I need to stop him. He rushed to the door and began pulling on it. Tony shook his head as it didn’t open.
“Open the door Tony.” Bucky growled.
“Not until the fight is over. Rules are rules.” Tony responded but Bucky couldn’t help but here a twinge of doubt in his voice.
Bucky heard a choked scream from the TV and he rushed back to see. It was the straw that broke his back as he watched Loki throw Iris to the ground before yanking her up by her hair and punching her in the stomach.
He raced back to the door and ignored Tony’s warnings. He grabbed the handle and managed to rip the door from the lock. He could just see above the grass as he watched Iris clawing at Loki’s arm like she had done earlier to him. However, this time it was real.
“LOKI! THAT’S ENOUGH!” Bucky heard Thor’s voice boom over the intercom before he came racing in. Loki dropped Iris unceremoniously on the ground before letting Thor take him away. It took every ounce of self restraint to not tackle him to the ground right then.
Bucky raced to Iris’ side. She grabbed his arm for support but couldn’t get up.
“I should have never let you do this.” Bucky hated himself for allowing this to happen. He knew she could never beat Loki.
“It’s my fault, I chose to go up against him. I was being stupid.” Iris had uncurled from her position on the floor and was now attempting to get up again. Bucky helped her sit up, leaning against him.
“You weren’t stupid; you didn’t know any better.”
“Well, I should have.”
The room had reverted back to its original white emptiness. The silence was surprisingly peaceful as Iris’ wheezy breaths returned to normal. Bucky would have been perfectly happy sitting there all day but Iris had begun to get up. Bucky helped her to her feet as she rubbed the bruises forming around her neck. She winced and Bucky felt himself tense up once more. I’m going to kill him. No wait, I’m going to rip all his limbs off and then kill him. Bucky imagined multiple ways in which he could end Loki’s life as the two of them returned to the main training room.
As they walked in Steve, Pietro, Tony and Natasha were all staring with concerned looks on their faces. Why do they care. They weren’t helping at all, they just let this happen.
“Where’s Loki?” Bucky asked fiercely. “I want to punch his stupid face.” Iris smiled and Bucky felt his heart drop in a better than good way.
“Thor brought him back to his cell.” Steve announced. Bucky was relived he wasn’t out in the open anymore and it seemed like Iris agreed as she let out a calmed breath.
“Good. It’ll be easy to beat him up there.” Bucky grumbled. Iris punched him lightheartedly on the shoulder.
“My winter savior.” Bucky felt his own lips raise into a smile. That’s a step up from her called me asshole. Bucky’s thoughts were quickly cut off as she placed her lips against his cheek. It was a perfectly innocent gesture but his heart and mind collapsed. Please don’t be blushing, please don’t be blushing.
Bucky looked down at Iris who had the cheesiest grin on her face. Bucky followed in suite. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Tony slapping Natasha on the shoulder like a child.
“What about me?” Pietro asked. Bucky was about to shoot him one of his famous glares but Iris just laughed it off so he decided against it.
“Well, I think you’re done with training for today so you go get ready for your date.” Steve was mocking them but Bucky didn’t mind.
“Will do captain.” Iris fake saluted with her free hand as the other was still wrapped around Bucky’s right arm. The two of them then walked to the elevator up to the forty-fourth floor.
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Iris’ POV
“So, where are we going tonight?” Iris asked Bucky. She had bought a dress to wear but wanted to know if it would be appropriate for the night.
“I was hoping you’d tell me.” Bucky laughed.
God, I love that laugh. The way his eyes lit up when he smiled was the world to Iris. She couldn’t help but grin with everyone of his beams.
“I have never eaten in a restaurant in New York, unless you count McDonalds.” Iris laughed this off but she hated the fact that it was true.
“Well, I might know a little place that actually is from when I was your age.” Iris rolled her eyes at Bucky’s comment. The elevator dinged and the doors opened. They were on the forty-fourth floor. The two of the walked into the hallway as they continued talking.
“My age? How old are you?”
“Technically 29. Literally 99.” Iris’ jaw dropped.
“Lets stick with technically.”
“How old are you?”
“Never ask a lady her age.” Iris joked. Bucky laughed. They had already reached their opposing doors but didn’t enter them yet. “But I’m 25, so not a huge gap, I guess.”
“Well I can’t wait until I get to know a little more about you, angel.” Iris rolled her eyes but smiled. He had used her nickname which Iris actually had surprisingly enjoyed. Usually she avoided using it as many people used it in a degrading way but Bucky was far kinder.
“As long as you tell me a little about yourself.”
There was an awkward moment of silence before Bucky broke it.
“I saw that Steve got a new motorbike, do you want to steal it again for tonight?” Iris smirked at his proposition.
“Of course. I guess I’ll meet you in the garage at six.”
“See you there, angel.”
“You too, frosty.”
“God, you are starting to sound like Stark.”
“Shit, I’ll need a better name then. Would honeybuns work? What about sugar cheeks?” Iris pretended to be in deep thought and Bucky laughed.
“Maybe I should start calling you that.” Bucky mocked as Iris rolled her eyes again although her smile betrayed her.
“At least take me on a date first.”
“So it’s a maybe?”
“Just stick with angel.”
“Whatever you say, doll.”
“God, that is the most Brooklyn thing you could say.” Iris chuckled.
“Well they both suit you.”
“Such a flirt.”
“What can I say? I can’t resist a pretty dame.” Iris blushed.
“Well, I’m going to get ready and think of a better name for you so I’ll see you tonight.”
“See you later angel.”